Erosion damages fencing

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 20: Severe erosion by the Punarbhaba river since yesterday has uprooted about 12 metre in the fencing, along the Bangladesh border at Bat-tali under the Bamongola police station. The irrigation department has taken up palliative measures to save the rest of the border fencing, Mr S Misra, the executive engineer, Malda irrigation division, said. According to the irrigation department officials, the Central Water Commission has sought an estimate for permanent measures to protect both the border road and the fencing along the Punarbhaba and Mahananda rivers. The Malda irrigation officials had submitted four projects, covering six vulnerable points including Bat-tali and Khutadaha for the protection of the border road and fencing in Old Malda and Bamongola block areas, to the CWC for approval. It was also stated that a 5.4 km stretch on the bank of the two rivers had been detected as vulnerable against erosion. “Though the estimated cost of the project was more than Rs 12 crore, it has been increased to Rs 14 crore, following the recent CWC guideline,” Mr Misra, said. The project is likely to be executed this winter. While the Fulohar is in a destructive mood, the increasing water level in all the major rivers of the district has set off an alarm, as the irrigation and the weather experts predict more rains and therefore more rise in the water level. According to the irrigation department chief given the amount of rainfall, the water level in the Fulohar is feared to cross the danger mark tomorrow. The irrigation department recorded 27.15 metres water level on the bank of the Fulohar, sounding red signal in some unprotected areas. Similarly, the water level of the Ganges was recorded 23 metres today and is feared to go up to 23.50 metres, following the rising trend in the Ganges water in Allahabad and Patna. The water would flow down in the next 48-hours here, Mr Misra, said. It is feared that a sudden rise in the water level of the Ganges could spell disaster for Sakurullahpur (Shibmandir) point in Kaliachak II. Bagdokra point on the bank of Fulohar in Ratua, according to the irrigation department.